title: Plasma DNA. A simple, rapid test for aiding the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Previously, we reported that the sensitivity of plasma DNA for patients with pulmonary emboli was 83 to 88 percent. To confirm these findings in a more comprehensive study, we collected plasma samples from 137 consecutive patients undergoing 148 ventilation-perfusion lung scans for pulmonary embolism. DNA was measured using a counter-immunoelectrophoresis technique that used high titer precipitating double-stranded DNA antibody from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition to 17 patients (17 lung scans) excluded for not having plasma collected, 32 patients (37 lung scans) were excluded for having either a condition other than pulmonary embolism that could be associated with plasma DNA or for having nonacute symptoms. Eighteen of 22 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (defined by either a high probability lung scan or abnormal pulmonary angiogram) had detectable plasma DNA. Only four of 27 patients without pulmonary embolism (defined by either a normal lung scan or normal pulmonary angiogram) had plasma DNA detected. Based on these results, plasma DNA had a sensitivity of 82 percent and a specificity of 85 percent for this condition. Plasma DNA is a promising test for pulmonary embolism and could help physicians interpret equivocal lung scan findings and thereby clarify difficult decisions such as the need for pulmonary angiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vargo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Philbrick
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Schoonover
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D004247:DNA